Assistantships, Fellowships, & Awards

Assistantships

Binghamton University awards hundreds of assistantships every year to graduate students admitted to our degree programs. Assistantships, which include graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships, provide competitive stipends and may include tuition scholarships. Graduate programs award assistantships and stipends on a competitive basis, with academic merit as the primary criterion.

Graduate and Teaching Assistantships

Over 500 graduate and teaching assistantships are awarded each year. Graduate and teaching assistants are expected to work approximately 15 to 20 hours per week during the semester. Graduate assistants (GAs) complete research and/or provide administrative aid within their graduate discipline. Teaching assistants (TAs) provide classroom support, either by teaching, leading discussion sections, grading or preparing classroom materials.

Research Project Assistantships

Another 150 or more assistantships are awarded to research assistants and supported through grant funding. Research project assistants (RPAs) are normally provided for an academic-year (ten-month) stipend ranging from $7,000 to $30,000, and may include a tuition scholarship. RPAs also work approximately 15 to 20 hours per week on research.

RPAs are selected by the graduate program using the same criterion used for selecting GA and TAs. However, students interested in RPA positions should make contact with faculty members who administer grants.

Graduate School Assistantships

The Graduate School seeks talented students from a variety of disciplines to serve as Graduate School assistants. Qualified students will gain professional experience and enhance their resume while earning their degree. Assistants typically work 20 hours per week, and they receive a generous hourly rate or stipend. View job descriptions, application information, and deadlines.

University Fellowships & Scholarships

Binghamton University offers both general and specialized fellowship opportunities. Fellowship recipients are typically provided with an academic-year stipend, plus a full- or partial-tuition scholarship. While recipients must comply with curriculum and academic program expectations, fellowships carry few or no work requirements.

The Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowship for Graduate Students

The Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowship for Graduate Students, named for a former president of the University, is awarded based on merit and designed to recruit and support students who contribute to student body diversity. The Clark Fellowship funding package includes an academic-year stipend, full-tuition scholarship, health insurance, a guaranteed award period assuming satisfactory academic progress, research and travel opportunities and other benefits. Candidates must:

be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status.

be newly admitted to a graduate program.

demonstrate how they will contribute to the diversity of the student body in their program.

Check the appropriate box on the Graduate School application, indicating interest in the Clark Fellowship, and submit the Clark Fellowship Essay.

For full details, including procedures for nomination, stipend levels, award period and more, visit the Clark Fellowship web page.

Tuition-only Scholarship

The Graduate Tuition Opportunity Program (GTOP) is available to U.S. citizens only. It provides tuition assistance for qualified EOP (Educational Opportunity Program), HEOP (Higher Education Opportunity Program), and SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge) program graduates enrolled in a graduate degree program.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded, State University of New York (SUNY) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Bridge to Doctorate (BD) program at Binghamton University helps students obtain a Ph.D. by providing financial support to pursue graduate study, faculty mentors to guide students academically and professionally, and a support network of staff assisting them in accomplishing their goals. For eligibility and application requirements, go here.

The Dr. Bhagwan Gajwani Fellowship

The Dr. Bhagwan Gajwani Fellowship, established in 1998 by Dr. Bhagwan Gajwani, has two purposes:

to promote educational and cultural relationships between Binghamton University and the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda, Gujarat, India

to help students from Dr. Gajwani's homeland develop the expertise and skills to enhance the quality of life for the people of India

The scholarship is awarded annually to selected graduates of MSU currently residing in India. Applicants must have fulfilled Binghamton University's admission requirements and be accepted into a master's program in one of the following fields:

business administration

computer science

economics

engineering

The Gajwani Fellowship provides a stipend of $10,000 for the academic year and a full-tuition scholarship.

For priority consideration, The Graduate School application and Gajwani Fellowship application should be submitted to The Graduate School by April 21.

Binghamton University Foundation Fellowships

In addition to those fellowships made available through The Graduate School, the Binghamton University Foundation sponsors fellowships that provide full- or partial-tuition scholarships as well as stipends.

Application, selection and notification of fellowships are made through sponsoring departments. Contact your academic department of interest for complete details.

University Women Female Graduate Student Scholarship

Established in 2003 by the University Women's Club, this scholarship is awarded annually to a full-time, second-year female graduate student who demonstrates academic merit and at least a 3.7 grade-point average. Other criteria considered include: overall financial need; a demonstrated commitment to community service, either recent or current; and a clear vision of intended career goals.

Established in 1985 by colleagues of Elizabeth A. Knapp to honor her 19 years of service to the University, this scholarship assists non-traditional female students with demonstrated financial need who have experienced delays pursuing their education. Awarded to women at least 25 years of age admitted to or currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, with planned enrollment of at least six credits per semester.

By the spring deadline, applicants must submit a completed Knapp Scholarship Application (doc, 34kb), including essay, to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Employment (Room SW-109). A FAFSA must be on file by the application deadline.

University Awards

Binghamton Council & Binghamton Foundation Combined Award

The Council/Foundation Award for service to the University is the combined award of the Binghamton Council and the Binghamton Foundation presented annually to individuals from the University community. Four awards are given: recipients will be a faculty member, a staff member, an undergraduate student, and a graduate student. All recipients are individuals who have served the campus with outstanding dedication and who have provided exemplary service and/or leadership to the University. Recipients receive a $1,000 check and a certificate.

Nominations for the Binghamton Council & Binghamton Foundation Combined Award should be submitted using the Nomination Form and should include the name of the nominee, a current resume, curriculum vitae or job description, a letter of nomination (up to two typed pages), and a minimum of three and a maximum of seven letters of support.

All nominations will remain confidential and are due by Friday, March 28, electronically in PDF format to Laura O'Neil at laura@binghamton.edu.

For additional information or questions, contact O'Neil at 777-4895.

Program-Specific Fellowships

The Richard Antoun Graduate Fellowship in Anthropology, named for a former professor (1970-2009) of sociocultural anthropology at Binghamton University, is awarded annually based on merit and is designed to support doctoral students in anthropology, preferably in sociocultural anthropology. The Antoun Fellowship funding package includes a stipend, full-tuition scholarship and health insurance.

Candidates for the Antoun Fellowship must be:

admitted to the anthropology doctoral program

eligible for funding by the standard criteria of the Graduate School

making excellent and timely progress toward degree completion

Applicants complete and submit by the Department of Anthropology's deadline either:

Established by Lawrence and Betty Knaphle, this scholarship is awarded to full-time graduate students with academic merit studying international business in the School of Management. International students may be considered.

This scholarship provides need-based funding to a first-year graduate student enrolled in the School of Management, with preference given to students of merit from Broome, Chemung, Schuyler or Seneca counties in New York state.

Recipients chosen by the School of Management.

College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA): Fellowships & Scholarships

The College of Community and Public Affairs offers a variety of fellowships and scholarships to students in the Community and Public Affairs, Public Administration, Social Work, and Student Affairs Administration programs. To view the full listing of CCPA funding opportunities and other specific details, please visit the CCPA Funding Webpage.

Chemistry: K. Keith Innes Summer Research Grant

This grant provides full funding for summer research using spectroscopy in physical chemistry, chemical physics or other fields of chemistry, in this order of preference. The grant is awarded to a graduate student who has demonstrated exceptional ability, who is not fully funded for summer research and who has received the grant not more than once previously.

Selection is made by the chemistry chair in conjunction with the physics chair.

Graduate School of Education (GSE): Fellowships & Scholarships

The Graduate School of Education offers a variety of fellowships and scholarships, including the Edgar W. Couper & Geraldine S. Weil Memorial Fellowships. To view the full listing of GSE fellowships and scholarships and other specific details, please visit the GSE Funding Webpage.

Established in 1993 by family and friends in honor of Marion Clayton Link's lifetime interest in journalism, this endowment provides support for an exemplary graduate student in the creative writing program.

Recipients chosen by the Creative Writing program.

Geography: Budin Assistantship

This assistantship was established by Professor Emeritus Morris and Clara Budin '72 to provide a teaching assistantship and a tuition scholarship for a student studying urban geography and urban planning in the master's program. It is awarded based on academic merit.

Recipients chosen by the Department of Geography.

History: Doctoral Research Grant in History

Established in 1991 by alumnus Barry Kramer '67, '72 this grant is awarded annually to a doctoral student in history to support his or her research or writing activity. The recipient must have demonstrated potential for excellence as a scholar and teacher. The historical significance of the research is also taken into consideration.

Recipients chosen by the History Department.

History: Joan S. Dubofsky Doctoral Research Grant

Established in 1998 by Distinguished Professor Emeritus Melvyn Dubofsky in memory of his wife, this grant is awarded annually in the spring semester to a doctoral student in history to support his or her research or writing activity. The recipient must have demonstrated potential for excellence as a scholar and teacher.

Recipients chosen by the History Department.

Mathematics: Craig Squier Memorial Fellowship

This fellowship was established in 1993 in honor of an outstanding former faculty member of the Mathematical Sciences Department and is awarded to a master's- or doctoral-level student in mathematical sciences.

Established in 1999 to benefit Decker School of Nursing doctoral students, this fellowship is awarded to full-time doctoral students with experience and interest in rural nursing practice who are committed to engaging in dissertation research in the Broome County area. Recipients must have high academic achievement; demonstrated potential for excellence as a scholar, teacher and researcher; and a progressive record of continued development in nursing practice and scholarship.

Political Science: George L. Hinman Doctoral Fellowship in Public Policy

Established in honor of a former member of the State Board of Regents who was instrumental in the founding of Harpur College, this fellowship is awarded to a doctoral student in political science.

Recipients chosen by the Political Science Department.

Public Administration: Change Maker Scholarship

The Change Maker Scholarship is an annual merit-based award for beginning, full-time students with outstanding leadership abilities who aspire to create positive change through a management career in the public or nonprofit sector. Depending upon applicant qualifications, students may receive up to a full tuition scholarship and stipend.